The Temple of Heaven

by Z. Allora

  “Mmmm, they changed the gel to sandalwood.” Tian Di’s moan wrapped around Jordon, making him need more.

  “What? Oh, um, to what?” Jordon shouldn’t be standing in the bathroom, gawking at his guest. Maybe he could offer to wash his back, or anything else that might require attention.

  “Smells good.” Tian Di turned and held the tube out for Jordon to sniff.

  Inhaling was difficult while panting. Go figure. “Yeah.”

  The need to sketch Tian Di rode him hard. His therapist pointed out that art was how he distanced himself from the world, but under these circumstances, it was a way to merge with his subject. Ink and paper would allow him to capture this moment. “I long to draw you.”

  Tian Di turned toward him. “I would rather you touch me.”

  Even if the offer could be twisted into a way that could be misinterpreted, his body sent a clear message. Tian Di wanted him.

  Jordon craved Tian Di. The day only reinforced how much that was the case.

  Fuck it all.

  “May I join you?” His voice cracked.

  Tian Di reached out a hand. “Please.”

  In record time Jordon stripped out of his clothing, took Tian Di’s hand, and stepped around the glass shower barrier.

  Now what? Oh my God! He was naked in a shower with Tian Di.

  Tian Di was a work of art. Jordon’s voice broke when he told him, “You’re so beautiful it hurts.”

  Shit! Note to self: Don’t say everything that pops into your head.

  “Thank you. I find your blush adorably perfect.”

  Disregard last note and tell Tian Di everything.

  Tian Di shifted closer to the wall, allowing water to pellet Jordon. The warm water woke him out of his stupor.

  Jordon ran his fingers through Tian Di’s damp hair. They were alone… and very naked. What should he do?

  Studying him, Tian Di confessed, “I’ve never taken a shower with anyone before.”

  “Me either. I don’t know whether I’m supposed to soap you up or….”

  “Get me dirty?” Tian Di’s voice dropped an octave.

  “Was that a request?” ’Cause one peek down below to their waists showed they both wanted to do delicious and filthy things to each other on the quick side of now.

  Tian Di held out the tube of shower gel.

  Palm up, Jordon accepted the sandalwood gel Tian Di squeezed with a trembling hand. That gave Jordon assurance enough to stroke his soapy hands along Tian Di’s shoulders and down his chest, then rest them on his hips.

  He wasn’t sure who moved first, but Jordon found his mouth plastered onto Tian Di. Tongues, lips, and mouths all tangled, making him crave more. God, the man could kiss. Whether it was gentle and affectionate or uncontrolled and passionate, Tian Di had mastered the skill.

  Tian Di shifted.

  Jordon’s cock rubbed against Tian Di’s thigh, making stars form behind Jordon’s eyelids. He threaded his fingers into Tian Di’s wet hair and tugged.

  Breaking the kiss, Tian Di mumbled, “I love when you do that.”

  “Like this?” Always wanting to please, Jordon pulled his hair again. Not hard, but just enough to get that breathy neediness released from deep inside Tian Di.

  A broken “Yeah” ricocheted around the bathroom. Tian Di adjusted his hips, and the position lined up their cocks. A semithrust grazed his cockhead against Jordon’s, making the stars burst.

  Cupping Tian Di’s ass helped keep Jordon upright. Wait, he had two hands on Tian Di’s naked butt in his hotel shower? Holy fuck! Either he would be changing his sheets or the God of All Things Gay decided to grant him all his fantasies at once.

  Rubbing his hands over the firm muscles of Tian Di’s finely sculpted ass made Jordon want to work with clay. Maybe he should—

  An anxious thrust accompanied by a needy moan yanked Jordon back into real life. Instinct and sensation overrode the surreal.

  Jordon wrapped his hand around both their cocks and tightened. He gave a long stroke, forcing his cock to slide against Tian Di’s.

  Tian Di gasped. “I love being with you.”

  Jordon’s confidence built. He trailed his mouth from Tian Di’s lips, along his jaw, down his elegant neck, and licked.

  “You drive me insane,” Tian Di muttered and shivered. He grabbed Jordon’s ass, drawing him closer.

  “Good.” Jordon teased a particularly sensitive spot on Tian Di’s neck until he got a whimper of surrender. The yearning, laced with such hunger, went right through him.

  Tian Di groaned. “Please.”

  Taking mercy on him, Jordon bit, marking Tian Di as taken. An overwhelming need to possess this man, any part of him, made him suck harder. Mine!

  Jordon fondled Tian Di, teasing him with anticipation.

  Tian Di covered Jordon’s hand with his so they stroked together.

  The urgent slide of wet skin on wet skin became heated. Jordon’s erection rubbed against Tian Di’s, catapulting him to the heavenly realm, but Jordon craved more.

  “God! Not touching you all day….” It put Jordon on the crazy side of had-to-have-now. He kept jerking their cocks with Tian Di.

  Groaning, Tian Di agreed, “I know.”

  Jordon tucked his head onto Tian Di’s shoulder for a moment, afraid, terrified, of where they were heading and how this might end. Everything they were doing was probably irresponsible for Tian Di’s career, though nothing could have stopped Jordon from wanting to selfishly follow what this was between them to its conclusion.

  The man who haunted his dreams, who had sung him songs, and who had lived up to and exceeded all the expectations, was with him. Jordon’s heart expanded and made him want to believe this was more than a physical happy ending. Could this, just maybe, be more of a happily ever after?

  Groans of physical need echoed off the marble as they stroked.

  Tilting his head back put Jordon’s mouth just a kiss away from Tian Di’s.

  Days seemed to crawl by until Tian Di pressed his mouth to Jordon’s, and that connection was enough confirmation.

  “Almost there,” Tian Di warned.

  Hands joined together, their tugs became urgent.

  Jordon’s balls tightened further. The delightful pressure couldn’t be contained and radiated out from his core.

  “Yes.” Jordon shot. Everything intensified when Tian Di grunted and came with him.

  They clung, stroking each other and themselves through climax and back down to earth. Fists still wrapped around their shafts, they tried to catch their breaths as the warm water washed them clean.

  Tian Di’s sweet laughter echoed.

  Pulling back, Jordon asked, “What?”

  “I think I like showering with you.”

  “Me too. I could take a shower like this every day for the rest of my natural life and never be sick of it.” What was he saying?

  Tian Di smiled brighter than the sun. He took Jordon’s face in his hands and pressed their lips together. “Me too.”

  Jordon ducked his head into Tian Di’s wet shoulder. Happy didn’t even cover how those words made him feel.

  Eventually they stepped out of the shower. Jordon took a towel and dried Tian Di.

  “You don’t have—”

  “I want to.” It was that simple. Jordon wanted to take care of Tian Di in every way possible.

  Tian Di grabbed a towel and gently patted Jordon dry.

  Jordon left a towel around his waist as he led Tian Di out of the bathroom and tucked him into bed. He made him tea and then crawled in beside him.

  Propping himself up on a pillow, Tian Di nestled Jordon under his arm and sipped his tea. “Thank you.”

  A rightness settled over Jordon.

  Tian Di finger-combed Jordon’s hair until Jordon almost fell asleep.

  “I really hate to do this, but I need to go pack for Beijing.” Tian Di slid from the bed and pulled on his jeans.

  “You can borrow my clothing for the show.” Jordon trie
d to pull him back into bed.

  Tian Di snorted. “How I wish I could cuddle around you and go to sleep. And let you wake me up in the middle of the night. But I need to get ready for the trip.”

  Jordon’s well-meaning “I understand” was accompanied by a hug that evolved into another round of kisses that pulled Tian Di back into the bed.

  With a long sigh, Tian Di stood again. “I have to go.”

  Frowning, and maybe even pouting a little, Jordon peeled his hands off of Tian Di, lay down, and yawned. “You’re right. I shouldn’t make it harder…. That’s what he said.”

  TIAN DI chuckled. He’d never been with anyone so willing to laugh and find joy in everything. “You make it very hard. All the time… that’s what I say.”

  Jordon snorted.

  Tian Di hated to leave Jordon, but he needed to pack for the trip. Sighing, he snuggled Jordon beneath the covers, hoping to quench his need to crawl back into bed with him. “I promise you, I wouldn’t go unless I had to. I’ll see you tomorrow on the bus to the airport.”

  “I’ll text you sooner. Okay?” Jordon bit his lip and stared at him.

  Tian Di kissed him tenderly, trying to convey all that was in his heart. At the risk of sounding like a lovesick fool, he begged, “Please do. Even though it’s only a few hours, I’m going to miss you like crazy.”

  He snuck out of the room and got on the elevator. Once the doors closed, he exhaled. Whew, no brothers had appeared. Tian Di didn’t like the secrecy, but if Jordon needed to keep things quiet, so be it.

  His phone buzzed with a text from Jordon. It read, Thanx for the great day. I want to fish from whatever tree you pick! The message was signed with a heart and an artist emoji.

  He texted back, We will find the best tree together, and signed the text with a heart and a microphone.

  The elevator doors slid open. Angel Luv sat at the bar, nursing a drink.

  Tian Di should move quickly, and maybe if he were lucky—

  Angel waved him over. “Let me buy you something to drink.”

  There was no refusing this. He’d been caught. “Tea?”

  “Ah, still in instrument-protection mode?” Angel grinned at him over a glass of amber liquid.

  “What?”

  “Nothing….” Angel ordered a hot tea as Tian Di slid onto the stool next to him.

  The bartender set a teacup and pot in front of Tian Di, and Angel still hadn’t spoken.

  Tian Di should convey how grateful he was for the opportunity the Dark Angels had handed the members of Made in China. “The band appreciates being able to open for the Dark Angels. It’s an honor.”

  Angel scoffed. “You know it’s all a game.”

  True. “Well, I appreciate you helping us like this.”

  “But? I can hear your question. Go ahead and ask me?”

  There seemed to be no escaping Angel’s study of him. Tian Di hated he could be so easily read. “Why would you bother?”

  “I can tell you it’s because we’ve been there, and we were, but really, it’s because we can and should. You and the band are talented and deserve to be heard. We just happened to be in a position to make that happen. You’ve been given the chance; make the most of it.”

  “Thank you.” Tian Di sipped his tea.

  Angel spun the ice cubes in his glass. “You’re wearing one of Jordon’s shirts.”

  Looking down—and he tried not to feel like he’d been caught stealing pork buns—Tian Di admitted, “Yeah.”

  The silence stretched between them until Tian Di cleared his throat, hoping something brilliant would fly out of his mouth.

  Angel shook his head. “You waiting for me to warn you off him? Or threaten you about how your relationship with him could destroy Made in China? You’ll be waiting a long time.”

  Tian Di stared at him.

  “His brothers might kill you, though. Look, my band freaked when Darius and I got together. You’ve just got to remember it’s your life, and there should be more to it than music.”

  He sat there trying to process what this superstar told him.

  “I’m going to head upstairs to what’s more important to me than music. But you do you….” Angel left him.

  Tian Di turned his ring around his finger. A vision of Jordon flashed through his brain. He slipped the ring off and stared at the musical note. Then he put the ring on the other hand.

  Chapter 11

  A CHIRP woke Jordon. He stretched and reached for his phone. Tian Di’s text read, You up?

  Jordon giggled, adjusted his cock, and sent a devil emoji along with Very.

  Tian Di responded immediately. I think you’re flirting with me.

  Always. Jordon felt a familiar lightness of spirit he usually only got when lost in art.

  How long do you have before you see your brothers?

  An hour.

  In that case, after I do my stretches, I’m going to take a shower and pretend you are with me like last night.

  Jordon gripped his cock in one hand and typed with the thumb of his other. That’s the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me!

  Every time I think of our shower I get hard….

  Dot. Dot. Dot. Was Tian Di going to touch himself? Do you mean…?

  Tian Di sent a demon emoji and I’m going to call out your name when I cum.

  Holy fuck! Tian Di was going to jerk himself off while thinking of Jordon. Thrill and arousal battled for words.

  Jordon needed to clarify. You’re going to think of me and get off?

  Yes!

  He sent a devil emoji, heart eyes emoji, and Wish you were here to kiss.

  Jordon gave his cock a slow stroke at Tian Di’s Me too. Care to join me in the shower? You can think of me touching you until I make you cum.

  Wishing he could think of something hot to say, Jordon settled for Okay.

  Fifteen minutes later… warm water, soap, and the image of Tian Di made for a very satisfying shower.

  After he got dressed, Jordon had to ask, Did you?

  Call your name? I did.

  God. You’re hot. Can’t wait to see you.

  So are you! See you soon.

  JORDON WHISTLED his way into the private breakfast room. His brothers and their other halves sat at a long table facing a row of windows. A table of covered silver serving trays, a fancy coffee maker, and juices lined the opposite wall.

  Zack sat next to Andrew, and Dusty buttered toast for Justin, the love of his life. They all turned around to study Jordon.

  Would they see a difference in him? He nixed dancing to the music in his head, as well as greeting them with his traditional “Morning bros and their hoes” comment that begged to be spewed out; instead he swapped the immature and sexist quip for a simple “Morning.”

  “What are you so happy about?” Zack asked, like Jordon’s good mood broke some law.

  His heart shouted, Tian Di! He’s the most wonderful man in the world! And if Jordon hadn’t misunderstood the “whole climbing the right tree” analogy, then Tian Di just might be Jordon’s boyfriend. He wanted to paint murals of happiness and love all over the world. Tian Di made him excited to be alive. Not ready for what the truth would bring, Jordon went with “Nothing.”

  Zack glanced at his phone. “Well, you’re late. We ordered pancakes for you, but they might be cold.”

  Totally worth the fantasy of getting off while your boyfriend—hee hee, boyfriend—is jerking off to you. Jordon smirked. “Thanks, but why did you order for me if I wasn’t here?”

  Zack answered, “’Cause I’ve been doing it since we started touring. You used to get mad if I didn’t.”

  “I believe you accused us of trying to starve you.” Dusty chuckled, possibly remembering how Jordon would simply snarf food off their plates until his arrived.

  “True. And I appreciated it, but from now on I can order myself.” Jordon said the words with a smile, but Dusty’s gaze narrowed on him. He was finally trying to implement his therapist’s sugge
stion of finding ways he could take responsibility back. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Dusty shook his head and put a smile on his face that didn’t cover his confusion.

  He slid into the empty seat next to Justin. “How’s our next story going?”

  Justin’s lilac-colored T-shirt and purple leather bracelets stepped into the realm of the genderbending wear he favored, though not so far that his simple black jeans didn’t pull the outfit back into the jurisdiction of China’s acceptability.

  A knowing look confirmed Justin knew Jordon was avoiding dealing with his brothers, and as always, he willingly played along, giving him a bit of safe haven. “Our next manga story is coming slow, but volume sixteen of my series is flowing nicely.”

  “No worries. Let’s just get the general idea down, and I’ll work on the storyboard while you get the dialogue together. I can make adjustments post dialogue.”

  Justin frowned. “Are you sure? I know you like—”

  “Totally fine.” Jordon was too happy to let a small snag in their flow get him down. If a deadline slipped… oh well. The world would keep turning.

  His phone chirped with Miss you.

  See you soon! He signed his text with a heart-eyed emoji.

  Dusty craned around Justin, attempting to look at Jordon’s cell phone. “Gwen?”

  A lie itched his tongue to avoid dealing with fallout. “No. Tian Di.”

  “Tian Di?” Zack growled. “Why is he texting you? How does he have your—”

  “I didn’t realize it was your business?” Jordon tried not to respond with aggression, though the line between “stay out of my business or I’ll rip your motherfucking head off” and assertive seemed fragile and faint.

  “Everything about you is my business,” Zack decreed like he had for years.

  Justin leaned toward Zack. “It’s actually not.”

  “But—” Zack deflated and his gaze darted to Dusty, then lingered on Jordon. He swallowed and then leaned into Andrew.

  Megan breezed in. “Morning, Davis and Nikeman crews.”

  “Morning, Megan,” Jordon said, maybe a bit too loud.

  “Darling Jordon, thank you for the comforters. They were a lovely surprise. I can’t wait to use them.”